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Your feedback on "We don't want Auckland to be the next Singapore"

As a person of similar vintage and early settler demographic, I was nonplussed to read of Grey Power member Des Dunlop's pompous arrogance in even considering a policy to limit arrivals from Asian countries.

In the greater scheme of things 200 years is not a particularly long time. I wonder if Des has ever considered the discomfiture of NZ inhabitants when his forebears arrived in NZ and started filling the country with new people, new ideas and new systems.

I wonder if he has ever bothered to actually get to know some folk from other cultures who are now NZ citizens?

He may learn, as I did, that beneath different cultures, food and customs, are living breathing humans who also need a sense of purpose and love and acceptance. And in fact I believe there are huge advantages in diversities of ideas and perspectives and these people actually enrich our country.

I stumbled into teaching English to immigrants and refugees and in the process became friends with a range of people from widely varied socio-economic, educational and religious backgrounds. What deep spirituality, ethics of hard work and care for families I discovered.

Life will never be the same. Life will be better. - Robin Greenfield

Wow at last someone brave enough to come right out and say in public what so many of us have been saying for a few years regarding this lovely city of ours!

Most people I know avoid Queen St in particular as it is like being in Asia - Chancery Lane, High St not so bad, but why go to the City - spitting, shouting in Asian, signs in Asian etc.

I even saw an elderly woman spitting in the street. Yesterday saw a man spitting right outside a tourist cafe - enough I say! The area I live in on the North Shore is going the same way, more and more Asians and their cheap shops etc. Whereas on the other side they have lots of South Africans who live more like we do.

Who is going to stop this influx - we do not want another Singapore - only Aucklanders understand this and we have to put up with it more than the other main cities in NZ.

What can we do? - Ann Scarbrough

Further to the article in The Aucklander 17 November regarding the supposed "Asianisation" of Auckland I wish to strongly endorse the comments of Joris de Bres, Race Relations Commissioner, debunking the ignorant remarks from some members of the Grey Power group.

I object most emphatically to the inference from such remarks that all "Grey" people, of which I am one myself, are so afraid of a multi-national society that they want the immigration of people from Asian countries restricted.

What century are these Colonel Blimps in? Having lived and worked until quite recently in countries as diverse as Samoa, Singapore, China and Tanzania I am delighted to see such a great ethnic mix in New Zealand since returning here to live a year ago.

In spite of the historically repressive regimes imposed by Europeans, often British, in those countries in the past, I was always treated with great warmth and respect wherever I lived and still am in my current part-time job teaching English to immigrants and refugees. Elderly immigrants come here to join family, look after grandchildren, provide stability for them while their parents work - thus contributing substantially to New Zealand's economy. And a distinct improvement in cuisine everywhere, including places to buy the ingredients.

As for holding a Gold Card, well so do I and I haven't paid taxes in New Zealand for 20 years - but I am now, albeit minimally.

If Mr Dunlop was brought up to say what he likes, when he likes and how he likes, as he stated, then he must come from a remarkably arrogant background. The largest group of migrants coming to New Zealand are English but one wouldn't know until someone speaks. Is it appearance that these people are fearful of?

The point made about "living in ghettos" and "tiny apartments" indicates that probably no-one from the group has any idea about the immigrants' backgrounds, or their ideas on New Zealand's "heritage values", culture etc.

I can assure the members that the interesting people I come in contact with have much to offer this country, not least good manners. Asking for an opinion is fine but please let it be an informed opinion. I hope many more people write in to say what they think about the views expressed. - Coralie Unwin

Concerning the article: "Claims Auckland Immigration is Flawed", as a member of the Asian community, I am upset by this article especially by Des Dunlop's narrow minded and repulsive comments towards members of my community. That is not the problem though. I think the problem lies in the way The Aucklander handled this story. It chose to give this minority view air time and legitimacy, which is not unlawful in a democratic society. But for the sake of fair journalism, why didn't you interview a member of the Asian community to provide a balancing viewpoint? To be fair to you, I think it was great that your team touched on Race Relations Commission and Asia NZ Foundation's views on the matter. But what about members of the Asian community? This is disappointing - I expect our journalists to be open minded, to dig deeper and to reach out to all sectors of society to enable them to participate in journalism. - Wilson Chau

I have just read Des Dunlop's views for the second time on Asian immigration, and I cringed even more on the second reading. As a member of Grey Power, how dare he pretend to speak for me? I was so embarrassed by his facile stereotyping and evident prejudice, though I am sure he is not alone in his views, yearning for a bygone era that will never return, and probably never was.

Some of us in Grey Power are much more liberal and tolerant of diversity, and actually welcome and value change. One wonders how many people from a different ethnic, cultural and even socioeconomic background does Mr. Dunlop actually know at a personal level. Does he mix with younger people who have learned to embrace multi-culturalism? He may think it is all right to be so outspoken, but has he stopped to consider for a moment the damage he has done to our organisation?

Grey Power has been losing members for years because younger people are not coming through. With comments and opinions as expressed by Mr. Dunlop, is it any wonder? I belong to Grey Power because of the wonderful people in it who are looking to the future, and working for a better tomorrow, not to indulge in nostalgia for halcyon days gone by that probably never were all that wonderful anyway.

I am disappointed in the Aucklander for giving his own personal view of the world as if speaking for Grey Power.
- John Austin

I am disappointed to read of the irrational and unfounded fears expressed by Des Dunlop. It's also a bit rich to complain about any group 'swamping' Auckland. This was not considered an issue when the Maori were swamped by our European forebears!

As another Milford resident and an 'old guy who goes to town' my response to the internationally-sourced community is to 'spot all the wondrously diverse people who so enrich our lives and our communities'.

Instead of wishing certain races could be limited in number we would serve the nation better by welcoming and affirming them, assisting in their integration, making friends and learning something of the substantial contribution other nationals make to New Zealand with their work ethic, low crime rates, their contribution to community life and the links they provide to the wider world.

My personal experience is that by far the majority of Asian people from over twenty countries are courteous, keen to learn, and determined to contribute to their new country. To embrace and love them is preferable to being fearful and discriminatory. - John Marcon

I'm afraid Grey Power member Des Dunlop does himself few favours in his photo in this morning's 'Aucklander.' He bears an uncanny resemblance to David Low's Colonel Blimp of the 1930s. His ideas are about as outdated.

We all are comfortable with the familiar and are often uncomfortable with change. But I don't think he should be overly concerned with the'Asianisation' of Auckland.

New Zealand is a country of immigrants. No doubt the original immigrants, the Maori, were pretty concerned with being 'swamped' at the time his ancestors arrived; perhaps they even played"spot the brown face" when they pulled up their canoes on the Auckland waterfront.

Many of his feared Chinese are students here on study visas; they are paying good money to gain qualifications before returning to enrich their own country with skills learned here. Others are here because they want the same things Des's forebears wanted: opportunities and a chance to better themselves and their families.

I would suggest that Des visit any secondary school on the Shore, or wider Auckland, and observe how well Asian students of all ethnicities quickly adopt Kiwi cultural practices (not all of them necessarily desirable) and become integrated into our society.

And Des, next time you have cause to visit or stay in a North Shore or Auckland hospital the chances are high that you will be cared for by doctors and nurses from, yes, Asian countries. - Peter Smith (aged 70, fifth generation NZer)

Auckland has become a mini Singapore, you're too late. I am a retired serviceman and have served, lived in Singapore, during my military career.

I would love to walk into any any supermarket, dairy, petrol station, theatre restaurant, or any service in the city where I am served by a New Zealand person. It can't be done.

Another example of this is the use of the Gold Card on buses and trains throughout the city, and Waiheke Island. Senior citizens have free travel entitlement on these services, next time you on a bus or train look for the senior Asians who carry their Gold Cards on swingers around their necks. I wrote to the Prime Minister on this subject about two years ago and his Minister told me, tough crap.That's how it is.

My opinion is Gold Cards should be given to entitled senior New Zealand born residents, ie those that produce a New Zealand birth certificate and/or a New Zealand current passport.

Further if Asians and residents have a stand-down period of 5 or 10 years, before Gold card entitlement.

This would save the Government about $30,000,000. a year. Yes Auckland is another Singapore, don't think it can be changed. - Paul Meyrick
Editor: This letter has been edited.

I can appreciate the "outrage" felt by Mr Des Dunlop and some of his Grey Power comrades as described in the article on Asian Immigration. I would hope that Mr Dunlop and his friends realise that they are no doubt experiencing the same "outrage" as did indigenous Maori when, in the 1800's Aotearoa became swamped by hordes of European people looking very much like Mr Dunlop.

Many of his points about contemporary Asian migrants could reasonable be ascribed by Maori to mid-1800's European migrants, e.g. "don't speak the language, as a race are not great at integrating, no understanding of heritage values".

If Mr Dunlop could agree that European emigrants like his family and friends have made a positive contribution to Aotearoa/New Zealand, then it is reasonable to suppose that the current wave of immigrants from Asia will also make a positive contribution to our country.

Globally emigration is a fact of life. As a small nation we need to welcome the many positive contributions migrants bring to our country. You are never too old to grow up Mr Dunlop. - Alan McDonald

The article from Mr Des Dunlop appears to give the impression that he is representing Grey Power's Auckland Zone with a membership of 13,000. The Auckland Grey Power Association Inc of which I am a committee member, is an autonomous body. Our area covers the previous Auckland City and our membership is about 2000. The Auckland Grey Power by a majority consensus wish to disassociate our group from the comments made in the article "We don't want Auckland to be the next Singapore." All Grey Power groups meet four times a year for a zone meeting. As far as I can determine the opinions expressed in the article have never been discussed at zone 2 meetings and have not been accepted as our policy.

On behalf of Grey Power Auckland Assoc Inc I, and another lady, made a submission to the Council which addressed the proposals in the draft plan affecting the 50+ age group. I believe our submission covered the whole range of topics presented in the plan. We agreed that good integrated public transport is vitally important, the rail tunnel being part funded by Government, and commend the Mayor on the plans he has put forward. To summarise

Our key policies, which have important links to the Plan and community issues are:
1. Law and order, including reducing alcohol harm, community safety.
2. Not selling assets to fund new developments or current expenditure.
3. Advocacy for regulation and quality monitoring of aged care.
4. Ensuring older adults have adequate income, and easy access to services

Housing and remaining in our community is a top priority for us. Compact inter-generational housing which allows the elderly to remain in their community, close to family, and which gives real choice is essential. We took an evidence based approach recommending Auckland City adopt the WHO Age-Friendly City Model and the Safer Cities Accreditation process.

Our concerns are not only for our needs but as a group we are concerned about the needs of youth realising their full potential as they are our future. - Margaret Bijl, Grey Power